LATEST
NEWS

Sean Dudley
/ Categories: News

Golfers enjoying restored course at Philadelphia’s Union League Golf Club

Golfers at the Union League Golf Club in the Torresdale area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have reacted positively to a restoration project completed earlier this year.

Originally designed by Donald Ross and previously named Torresdale Frankford Country Club, the recent project at the course was led by golf course architect Stephen Kay.

Masterplanning started in early 2014 and Brad Klein, a noted golf course architectural critic and historian of Donald Ross’ work, provided input on the restoration.

Work included the restoration of all sand bunker and tees, while all 18 greens were restored to their original size.

Fairways at the course were widened and more than 250 trees were removed.

New back tees were added on certain holes, which resulted in the addition of more than 200 yards to the length of the course from the championship tees.

A new practice facility and short game area have also been developed, and the total cost of the golf course restoration came it at around the US$3 million mark.

The course reopened for play in late May 2015. 

The Union League of Philadelphia took over primary ownership and responsibility for management of the golf club in early 2014. The recent work forms part of a 15-year masterplan for the club, which includes further enhancements to both the golf course and the clubhouse. 

Previous Article Richard Mandell discusses restoration of Donald Ross’ design at Bacon Park
Next Article Redesign of Ocean Course at the Sea Pines Resort to commence 5 October
Print
8578 Rate this article:
4.0
Slideshow HTML
  • Lovely Golf Course

    The restored fifth hole at the Union League Golf Club

  • Lovely Golf Course

    The fifth hole before restoration work

  • Lovely Golf Course

    Architect Stephen Kay led the restoration of the course

  • Lovely Golf Course

    The renovated practice area at ULGC

Sean Dudley

Sean DudleySean Dudley

Other posts by Sean Dudley
Contact author

Contact author

x
The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Magazine, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

The April 2025 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!

Includes reports from Maggie Hathaway and Apogee, interviews with Martin Ebert and Dave Axland and a feature on golf art

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now
Magazine, News | Fri 14 Mar, 2025

Spring 2025 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine is out now

New issue asks whether the golf boom has led to an increase in municipal golf investment

FEATURE
ARTICLES

The art of golf
theberkshire.co.uk, The R&A World Golf Museum and National Galleries of Scotland
Feature | Adam Lawrence

The art of golf

Adam Lawrence profiles some of the best illustrators of golf courses in the game’s history – both full-time artists and architects who draw or paint

A masterplan of masters’ plans
Cohasse CC
Report | Mark Wagner

A masterplan of masters’ plans

Mark Wagner writes about the Tim Lewis-led renovation of Cohasse, a course that includes the work of Donald Ross and the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted

Quail Hollow: An interview with Tom Fazio
PGA of America/ Gary W. Kellner
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Quail Hollow: An interview with Tom Fazio

The architect talks about how this year’s PGA Championship venue has evolved over the past 30 years

Bringing golf to Benin
Afrikafun Production Stephane Brabant
Report | Richard Humphreys

Bringing golf to Benin

Jeremy Pern and Gregori International are creating the first 18-hole course in the West African country, on an ‘almost perfect’ site that also includes a sacred grove and voodoo shrines

The future of vegetation management on Melbourne’s Sandbelt
Lukas Michel/CDP
Opinion | Mike Clayton

The future of vegetation management on Melbourne’s Sandbelt

Mike Clayton discusses Alister MacKenzie’s transformative impact on Australian golf and how clubs can avoid repeating previous mistakes by establishing a long-term plan focused on indigenous plants

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good
Stephen Barton – Second Collective
On site | Adam Lawrence

Maggie Hathaway: A force for good

The reconstruction of the nine-hole course in Los Angeles is the golf industry at its best, says Adam Lawrence

Designs for the big screen
Pizá Golf
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

The ties that bind
Crooked Stick
Opinion | Justin Olmstead

The ties that bind

Justin Olmstead of Profile Products talks about the relationships behind the renovation of Crooked Stick in Indiana

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz
Konrad Borkowski
Interview | Adam Lawrence

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build
Kinsale Golf Club
Interview | Richard Humphreys

Jim Wagner and Rusty Mercer discuss Kinsale design and build

Florida course is a tribute to the Golden Age designs of Raynor and Macdonald

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?
Larry Lambrecht
Feature | Adam Lawrence

Are bunkers getting too pretty for their own good?

Is the beauty of bunkering being over-emphasised at the expense of its function, asks Adam Lawrence

Gopher Watch Competition – April 2025
Gopher Watch, News | Wed 16 Apr, 2025

Gopher Watch Competition – April 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

MOST
POPULAR

FEATURED
BUSINESSES